Old Customs of Movpeth. By Wm. Woodman. 137 



Serjeant was sent to request a few of the principal inhabitants 

 to meet at the Queen's Head, where the despatches were 

 read and wine was drunk : this was done at the battle of 

 Leipsic. 



The great battle of Waterloo was not known at Mor(>eth until 

 after a week : there was a rumour of a great battle, but the 

 victory was given to each side. The arrival of the mail on the 

 following day was looked for with no little anxiety, and when it 

 drove up street with two flags and branches of oak upon the 

 roof, the enthusiasm was unbounded, the bells rang, the cannon 

 fired, and the health of the Duke of Wellington was drunk by 

 the Bailiffs and their guests : yet withal there was a feeling of 

 sorrow for the terrible loss of life. About a year after, the 

 writer sat in the Emperor Napoleon's carriage — a small 

 brougham — with half the seat extended to the front, to serve as 

 a bed, with all the articles for use or refreshment of plate. 



Thus we have three periods distinctly different in the receipt 

 of news. The first in the beginning of the 18th century, when 

 a MS. sheet was sent to the wealthy — the many being left in 

 ignorance ; the second at the end of last century, when all 

 Europe was in arms, and newspapers were common ; the third, 

 the present day, when we find on our breakfast table the in- 

 telligence of the occurrences of the previous day from all parts 

 of the world — the debates in our own Parliament, in the Chamber 

 of Deputies in France, and in the Senate in America. Every 

 one can now read the papers, which come in numbers from all 

 parts ; and Morpeth publishes a weekly paper, sent in numbers 

 to the surrounding villages. 



In the first quarter of this century, the letters were delivered 

 in Morpeth once each day about 3 o'clock by one man, who 

 expected one half-penny as a delivery fee for each letter, besides 

 Is 2d for postage. Letters were not sent to the country, but 

 from time to time reached their destination by a carrier ; though, 

 if necessary, a special messenger was sent ; three or four got their 

 living by this employment. On the 25th January 1894, 64 bags 

 were sent to the Post Office at various times, containing 2,599 

 letters, 735 book packets and circulars, 359 post cards, 119 

 parcels, and 394 newspapers. There were 4 deliveries by 6 

 messengers ; and the letters to the country were despatched by 

 12 messengers. In addition there were 57 telegraph messages 

 delivered by 4 messengers. In the Morpeth district 100 persons 



